Marie Antoinette's story is one that I'm very familiar with. I'd like to start off by saying that when it comes to historical inaccuracy, I don't mind allowing creative liberty/suspending my disbelief but I have to understand, to a certain extent, why these choices have been made. I feel as though the direction and some of the writing just didn't match up at all, especially at the beginning. It was almost like it couldn't decide whether it was an absurdist melodrama (a-la The Favourite, though minus the comedy), or a grounded re-telling of Marie Antoinette's life. If they had leaned more in the absurd direction visually, some of the more unbelievable plot-lines and happenings would have felt more watchable.
For me the biggest sin was Du Barry. I couldn't stand her character, and not just because she's a villain as I adore Josephine's portrayal. She was portrayed as this all controlling figure that had ultimate power and influence, who could casually waltz into Marie's chambers and start chatting to her, that eventually gets PROPOSED to (I shouted at the screen honestly). If you're going to do that make me believe it, make her the most opulent character on screen. She had a handful of boring dresses and none of the jewels Du Barry was known for. I also really didn't enjoy how they chose to portray Louis XV, it was totally erratic and unwatchable. So those two characters being at the forefront of the first 3 episodes made things difficult for me. The fact that Marie's acknowledgement of Du Barry was transformed into her curtsying to the woman was just wild, when you compare it to what happened in real life.
My complaints with the tone also continue when it comes to the depiction of Versailles. The marketing for this gave off an Alice in Wonderland vibe which, though perhaps a little cliche, is fitting for Marie's story. However if you want to portray Versailles as totally otherworldly to Marie you have to make it feel otherworldly to the audience. Whenever a character uttered something along the lines of "oh poor Marie is not used to it here!" I scoffed because the way the show had portrayed Versailles (probably due to budget constraints) was not unlike any other 18th Century European court which, as the daughter of an Empress, Marie Antoinette would have been more than used to. Instead they stick Du Barry on a horse and call it a day. At no point did the setting feel over the top, as it should, which is just mad as it was filmed on location so it should not have been hard. More well-dressed extras in certain scenes probably would have helped.
Speaking of, I come to the costumes. I wonder if the budget was blown on those two (rather underwhelming and out of place) Dior dresses. I've seen adaptations of Little Women where each of the March sisters have more costume changes than the characters in Marie Antoinette. Marie herself only has a handful. At no point is Marie believably portrayed as a fashion icon of the time, so her avant-garde moments in Dior feel totally out of place. Poor Provence only gets one outfit for the entire series, like he's a Scooby Doo character or something.
So, considering all this, why on earth did I give it a 6/10? Well, once Louis XV dies and Madame Du Barry is booted off the show (thank god) it immediately begins to get better. The individual story lines are all watchable, characters motives all seem to make sense and the show starts to feel fun. This in part is thanks to the wonderful performance of Emilia Schule and Louis Cunningham who, I think, portray the relationship between Marie and Louis in a really grounded, believable and honestly quite moving way. You feel for them both and by the end you want it to work out for them. Cunningham brings a real humanity to Louis' character that I can't help but get behind. I question some of the direction for Marie's character but it really seems like Schule does her absolute best with what she's given. I could rave for a long time about Roxane Duran and Jack Archer's performances as Provence and Josephine respectively, they really sell it and are fantastic, watchable villains in a fierce junta-position to Louis XV and Du Barry. Whether this is down to writing, acting, direction or a mix of all three I could not say. I also really enjoyed Jonas Bloquet as Joseph and Jasmine Blackborow as Lambelle, though I wish they'd made her character a little less sniveling. The aunts were also, for the most part, a delight to watch.
Parts of the writing, for example every bit with Joseph and the aunts made me wish it had been written more as a black comedy, more along the lines of The Favourite. I wonder if this is where Deborah Davis' strength primarily lies. I suppose they may get accused of trying to be BBC's answer to The Great (which despite being totally a-historical I love because all the choices they make actually make sense) but a fraction of the absurd tone that The Great and The Favourite had would have given the melo-drama, especially that of the first three episodes, that bit of footing Marie Antoinette needed.
I know I spent most of this review complaining, but the parts I have complimented really do lift the show up to a place where I was rather enjoying it for the most part. If it had continued as it had for the first 3 episodes I would have given it a 2/10 so I hope that helps explain my stance on things. It will never become my favorite period drama, or even my favorite portrayal of Marie Antoinette's life, but I don't think they should halt production on season two and toss out their wigs (well, some of them they should probably toss). Please don't blow the costume budget on Dior dresses next time!
For me the biggest sin was Du Barry. I couldn't stand her character, and not just because she's a villain as I adore Josephine's portrayal. She was portrayed as this all controlling figure that had ultimate power and influence, who could casually waltz into Marie's chambers and start chatting to her, that eventually gets PROPOSED to (I shouted at the screen honestly). If you're going to do that make me believe it, make her the most opulent character on screen. She had a handful of boring dresses and none of the jewels Du Barry was known for. I also really didn't enjoy how they chose to portray Louis XV, it was totally erratic and unwatchable. So those two characters being at the forefront of the first 3 episodes made things difficult for me. The fact that Marie's acknowledgement of Du Barry was transformed into her curtsying to the woman was just wild, when you compare it to what happened in real life.
My complaints with the tone also continue when it comes to the depiction of Versailles. The marketing for this gave off an Alice in Wonderland vibe which, though perhaps a little cliche, is fitting for Marie's story. However if you want to portray Versailles as totally otherworldly to Marie you have to make it feel otherworldly to the audience. Whenever a character uttered something along the lines of "oh poor Marie is not used to it here!" I scoffed because the way the show had portrayed Versailles (probably due to budget constraints) was not unlike any other 18th Century European court which, as the daughter of an Empress, Marie Antoinette would have been more than used to. Instead they stick Du Barry on a horse and call it a day. At no point did the setting feel over the top, as it should, which is just mad as it was filmed on location so it should not have been hard. More well-dressed extras in certain scenes probably would have helped.
Speaking of, I come to the costumes. I wonder if the budget was blown on those two (rather underwhelming and out of place) Dior dresses. I've seen adaptations of Little Women where each of the March sisters have more costume changes than the characters in Marie Antoinette. Marie herself only has a handful. At no point is Marie believably portrayed as a fashion icon of the time, so her avant-garde moments in Dior feel totally out of place. Poor Provence only gets one outfit for the entire series, like he's a Scooby Doo character or something.
So, considering all this, why on earth did I give it a 6/10? Well, once Louis XV dies and Madame Du Barry is booted off the show (thank god) it immediately begins to get better. The individual story lines are all watchable, characters motives all seem to make sense and the show starts to feel fun. This in part is thanks to the wonderful performance of Emilia Schule and Louis Cunningham who, I think, portray the relationship between Marie and Louis in a really grounded, believable and honestly quite moving way. You feel for them both and by the end you want it to work out for them. Cunningham brings a real humanity to Louis' character that I can't help but get behind. I question some of the direction for Marie's character but it really seems like Schule does her absolute best with what she's given. I could rave for a long time about Roxane Duran and Jack Archer's performances as Provence and Josephine respectively, they really sell it and are fantastic, watchable villains in a fierce junta-position to Louis XV and Du Barry. Whether this is down to writing, acting, direction or a mix of all three I could not say. I also really enjoyed Jonas Bloquet as Joseph and Jasmine Blackborow as Lambelle, though I wish they'd made her character a little less sniveling. The aunts were also, for the most part, a delight to watch.
Parts of the writing, for example every bit with Joseph and the aunts made me wish it had been written more as a black comedy, more along the lines of The Favourite. I wonder if this is where Deborah Davis' strength primarily lies. I suppose they may get accused of trying to be BBC's answer to The Great (which despite being totally a-historical I love because all the choices they make actually make sense) but a fraction of the absurd tone that The Great and The Favourite had would have given the melo-drama, especially that of the first three episodes, that bit of footing Marie Antoinette needed.
I know I spent most of this review complaining, but the parts I have complimented really do lift the show up to a place where I was rather enjoying it for the most part. If it had continued as it had for the first 3 episodes I would have given it a 2/10 so I hope that helps explain my stance on things. It will never become my favorite period drama, or even my favorite portrayal of Marie Antoinette's life, but I don't think they should halt production on season two and toss out their wigs (well, some of them they should probably toss). Please don't blow the costume budget on Dior dresses next time!